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Excess merger creates new force

Formed by a merger that includes the club that impressed in the UEFA Futsal Cup for Malta last season, Excess RP Bidnija are aiming to build on that showing in their mini-tournament.

The former ZC Excess Futsal are part of the merged Excess RP Bidnija
The former ZC Excess Futsal are part of the merged Excess RP Bidnija ©Domenic Aquilina

Two of Malta's strongest futsal forces have combined to form Excess RP Bidnija – and now they are looking to make an impact in Europe.

ZC Excess Futsal made a promising UEFA Futsal Cup bow last season, securing the first win by a Maltese club, against KF Tirana, in the maiden mini-tournament staged in the country. They also retained the national title, and then merged with the only team to beat them – RP Bidnija – to form the club that will compete in preliminary round Group F from Thursday against CF Eindhoven, hosts KMF Zelezarec Skopje and Istanbul Üniversitesi SK.

Experienced club administrator Mark Borg, who led the organisation for last year's mini-tournament, explained the thinking behind the union with their rivals. "The main reason for the merger was in order for our club to perform at a higher level both on the local scene and, most importantly, in Europe," Borg told UEFA.com.

Excess player-coach Florin Anton is in charge of the merged club, the Romanian having been named the Maltese Football Association (MFA) futsal player of the year, and can still count on established names like Carlos Scicluna, Clint Cope and Brian Baldacchino. "Our target is to do better than last year, although we know we have to face a harder challenge this time round," Anton said.

Borg added: "From my end it is an honour to be competing in the Futsal Cup for the second successive year. We're proud to have brought club position six places up in the [UEFA coefficient] rankings and will do our best to improve this position."

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